Please help! Raising baby chicks NOW in a cold climate!

[chickenannie]

I didn't read through this entire thread, but wanted to give a warning. I've had some very late-born chicks, and yesterday the 3 two month olds suffered frostbite damage on their heads. They seem to be recovering somewhat, thank god, but they left their heads poke out from their henmom that very cold night and I believe both sides of their heads got badly frostbitten. The dummies didn't tuck their heads under wing, which I believe they would have done if they hadn't been getting warmth on their body from being snuggled next to mom. Lesson learned is that they must have a heat lamp when it gets below 35. They're all fine during the day.

 

[Cottage Rose]

My chickies have been out in the coop for a few days now and we've been down in the 20's at night but its staying around 75º in their tarp covered area which consists of a plywood walled off area on a wooden floor with thick pine shavings.
I am concerned about their lack of socialization because chore time gets quite brief during this cold weather and I worry about them having to grow and stay warm at the same time. Its just not natural.
I will NEVER do this again!

 

[chickenannie]

Yeah, me neither!

 

[kelliepulido]

I have 2 mamas in the barn 3chcks are 1wk.old and the other 3 are 2wks.old they seem to be doing good.I put a heat lamp out there it has been really cold here.Wind chill yesterday was 3,today it was about 15de and we have about 5in of snow.My babies in the house are 3wk.old I took them off the 250 heat lamp moved it to 1oo watt then took them off the heat all together.They are in a dog crate everybody was flying out onto the bed and pooping all over,then they started fighting one was just mean I think I can tell he is a roo.They are very quick and getting big.Leghorn cochin mix.They have been without heat for 2d and I keep the house at 58 degrees I hope by next wk.to move them to the coop.Today during the day under the heat lamp in the coop it was 49 degrees.I know at nite it gets colder.I have another batch in the bator due next wk.end.

 

[Teresaann24]

I have a 2 week old silkie chick with his momma and he/she is doing fine. I don't have a heated coop for them but they have lots of hay. Also have a completly covered frun where no snow or rain can enter into the run. The chick did have pasty butt and no is featherless on his rump where i have had to pick off the dried poop but he/she seems to be doing fine with momma.

 

[chickenannie]

How do you hang a heat lamp over straw and keep it from catching on fire?

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

i have baby chickens and a duck inside this winter..... never again! lol

 

[Solsken Farm]

Hey Cottage Rose, how are your babies doing. I have been offline for ages and decided to check in. All our babies are still inside. I just was too afraid to put them out, plus my dh and I had no time get an outside coop ready for them. We worked on it yesterday and it is almost done. They are moving out today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yuck, this has been unpleasant, smell, dust etc.

 

[Cottage Rose]

They're doing fine.
We boxed in a big corner in the coop's storage side with plywood and we have 2 - 250 watts heat lamps in the box and thick pine shavings on the floor. I have a tarp over the top which I had to add because I couldn't keep it warm enough without the tarp.
During the day I uncover them so they can see out but I feel sorry for them, never seeing the light of day or getting any fresh air. I just don't think they will thrive in this environment...rather just survive.
I will never raise chicks in the winter again!

 

[pbjmaker]

I am with you - I moved most of mine out into the garage in a bigger brooder. They stay warm enough but I also feel like they are just living alone in a box. I do go and talk to them and check on them several times a day but feel like they aren't able to get out and around like my others did at the same age. I also feel like this group of chicks is more skittish because they are alone more.

Its near 40 today - maybe I will go let them out in the yard for awhile and see what they do.